I Tri and Craft

thoughts from a mother of boys, a marathoner, a triathlete, a crafter, a wife, and a scientist

Tag Archives: Children


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Birthday Pirate Shirt

When my son makes a decision he sticks to it.  The past two Halloween’s I asked him to pick a costume in August and he stuck to that choice. For TWO months.

Oh, did I mention he is three?

His birthday is next month, March, so in December I mentioned that we needed to start thinking about a theme for his birthday party.

Without hesitation he asked for a Skeleton Birthday party.

We were in the car with my husband and we were talking about it and this is what was said:

Hubby: do you want a Dia de Muertos party?
Ian: No dad. A skeleton party.
Hubby: I know but a Dia de Muertos party has skeletons…
Ian: No Dad! a skeleton party because skeletons are my favorite.  Skeletons, turtles and seals are my favorites.

So I started planning a skeleton party.  For about a week.  Until we got a catalog with party supplies in the mail.

Ian looked through it for a few days.  He kept talking about who was going to have what party.  He then said “This boy is gonna have a pirate birfday party” while pointing to his chest.

After some discussion we decided to have a pirate party instead of a skeleton party.  There was still almost three months to plan.

He has not changed his mind, but he has picked out his next five party themes.

I wanted to make him a shirt for his birthday party.  My Silhouette Cameo has the ability to cut heat transfer material to iron on clothes.

I designed a shirt with a skull and crossbones wearing a birthday party hat and the words “Birthday Pirate” instead of ‘Birthday Boy’

It was going to be a surprise but when the only time you have to work on something is when the kids are home nothing is a surprise.   Everyday he asked where his skeleton shirt was and if he could wear it.

MSS_BirthdayPirateShirt

I was finally able to say yes, and he was so excited.  Only about 2 months before his party.

You can read about the process in a three part series starting here.

 

Want to Check Out More Silhouette Projects?

My Silhouette Challenge buddies and I are all sharing projects on our blogs, so pursue the projects below for a wealth of Silhouette inspiration!

Silhouettechallengecollage

  1. DIY Screen Printed Curtains by Chicken Scratch NY
  2. “Cute as Cupid” shirt by crafts, cakes, and cats
  3. Easy Easter Bunny Onesie – Silhouette Cameo Craft by Adventures in All Things Food & Family
  4. Hearts-A-Lot Burlap Pillow Cover by My Paper Craze
  5. DIY Monogrammed T-shirts with Silhouette Heat Transfer Material by Pitter and Glink
  6. Sew Cute Applique by Life After Laundry
  7. Machine Applique with SIlhouette Cameo by The Sensory Emporium
  8. Mommy and Em’s Coordinated Aprons by TitiCrafty
  9. Valentine’s OWL Always Love You T-shirt by My Favorite Finds
  10. Teddy Bear by Work in Progress
  11. Fabric Envelopes for LEARNING LETTERS! (& cut file) by From Wine to Whine
  12. Upcycled Birchbox Cameo Accesory Organizer by Cupcakes&Crowbars
  13. No-Sew Valentine’s Day Pillows by A Tossed Salad Life
  14. Nerdy Baby Onesies + Free Cut File by Essentially Eclectic
  15. Lady Bug Tote Bag with Silhouette Rhinestones by Ginger Snap Crafts
  16. Valentines Baby Onesie & Boy’s Shirt + Free Cut Files by The Frill of Life
  17. Easy Fabric Art by McCall Manor
  18. Easy Heart Appliqued Onsies by Create & Babble
  19. DIY Bleach Spray Shirt by Practically Functional
  20. Felt Star Wands by Cutesy Crafts
  21. Baby Quilt by Dragonfly & Lily Pads
  22. Canvas sketch project and a share by Clever Someday
  23. Glitter Iron-On Top by Simply Kelly Designs
  24. Crawl, Walk, Bike by It’s Always Craft Time
  25. Stenciling Sherlock by Please Excuse My Craftermath…
  26. Monogrammed Burlap Garden Flag by The Turquoise Home
  27. “Team Betty” Tote Bag by The Thinking Closet
  28. Customizing textiles with Heat Transfer Vinyl (working title) by feto soap
  29. Foxy Lady Pajamas by Mabey She Made It
  30. Rhino Onesie by It Happens in a Blink
  31. Surprise Holiday Banner by Whats Next Ma
  32. No-Sew Interchangeable Fabric Bunting by unOriginal Mom
  33. Freezer Paper Stenciled Tote Bags by Weekend Craft
  34. Fabric Applique Valentine’s Day T-Shirt by DailyDwelling
  35. Pretty Up Some Organza Bags by Getsilvered
  36. Birthday Challenge by Fadville
  37. Yoda Kid’s T-Shirt by Architecture of a Mom
  38. DIY Sock Minion by Create it. Go!
  39. Big Sister Gift & Silhouette Cut File by Creative Ramblings
  40. Bleach Pen Gel & Freezer Paper Stencils Made with the Silhouette Machine by Bringing Creativity 2 Life
  41. Fabric Painted Quilted Wall Hanging by Terri Johnson Creates
  42. Nautical Pillows by Lil’ Mrs. Tori
  43. Mark Your Territory- Dog Flags by Black and White Obsession
  44. “Good Morning, Sunshine!” Memo Board by Tried & True

Happy Crafting

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Ian’s First Valentine Exchange

This is Ian’s first year at pre-school.  I am having such a wonderful time.  Oh, he is enjoying it as well.

My favorite thing about him being in school is the stuff he gets to make.  I LOVE it!  But I also love the stuff I get to make for class room parties and stuff.

As you may know today is Valentine’s Day.

I don’t like Valentine’s Day.  Seriously, it is my least favorite holiday.

You don’t get time off from work/school.  You don’t get ‘real’ presents.  If you are a girl you may get flowers or candy, and every once in a while some jewelry.  But those are anniversary gifts.  Plus if you want to go out to dinner or away somewhere, good luck!  Everything is always booked or you have some ridiculous wait time.

But you know why I really don’t like Valentine’s day?

The hearts.

Yep, that’s right.  I can’t stand hearts.

Except these kind.

Seriously, these are great.

I was trying to figure out some kind of valentine for Ian to give to his school friends that did not include “Be Mine” or “Love” or some other gross mushy heart filled sentiment.

Come on people! they are 4-year olds!  They can’t even read the cards!

Ok, so I found I found these:

Smarties Valentine Valentines

They are cute and use Smarties, which we all love.

So I tried to make something like that with my Silhouette Cameo.  Tip Junkie does offer a free printable for these cards, but I wanted to make my own.

This is as far as I got:

MSS_SmartiePants Valentine
I didn’t really like how they looked. The pants never looked right (that’s why they are not pictured) they were too big, the smarties didn’t sit in the right. I just wasn’t happy with the outcome. Plus there are hearts on it! yuck!

So I decided to try something else.  I wanted to give little gift bags, that way I could more than just one piece of candy in it.  I could add little sticker or an eraser or something like that.

Since I got my Silhouette Cameo I joined a Facebook group and someone posted this super cute card with glasses and a pun-ny little saying “In my Eyes…something or other.”  Using that as inspiration I made these:

MSS_EyeThinkYou'reSpectacular Valentine

I made my own cut files using a bag template and png file (for the glasses) that I already had.  I cut the word “Eye” out of black glitter card-stock, and the bag is just regular 65lb card-stock.

Of course my Cameo did all the cutting & writing for me, I just had to glue and fill.  I know, I know, there is a heart on the glasses.  What’s a girl to do?  It is Valentine’s day after all.

MSS_EyeThink_valentine

I had thought about letting Ian write his own name.  But he just wasn’t game.

Happy Crafting

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I linked this project up to

Silhouette Challenges


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12 Days of Christmas Tradition ~ Day 12

One of the reasons I love the Christmas holiday is the traditions.

I love reviving old family traditions, and making new ones.  I love remembering fondly the things that I did as a child at Christmas time and the things I couldn’t wait to do again.

As an adult, I get to make sure our family participates in our traditions and make new ones.

Our Zoo does a light display that runs from Thanksgiving through the first weekend of the new year.  There is no holiday theme to their display, it is of course about animals. 

12DaysofXmas2013_Zoo01

Typically we go see the Zoo Lights before Christmas, but that didn’t happen this year.  There wasn’t as much time between the two holidays and Christmas came before I knew it.  There was one week where we had time, but it was wicked cold out and thought of taking the boys out in that weather did not sound fun.

12DaysofXmas2013_Zoo02

We kept saying ‘if the weather is nice we will do it tomorrow.’  Then tomorrow came, and we had no time.  So we ended up going after Christmas.  It was cold, but it was dry and there was no wind, so it wasn’t that bad.

12DaysofXmas2013_Zoo03

Sid was mesmerized by the lights and the people.  Ian loved the lights, but was disappointed the animals were not out.  On the way home he said “I only got to saw one monkey. He climbed for me, an stayed up dat one night.”

I love the displays that look like the picture is moving.  You know, the ones where the lights are on a timer and turn off and on down the line.

12DaysofXmas2013_Zoo04

But my favorite thing about Zoo Lights is that they take in old lights.  They used to use the lights they took in after determining what was wrong with them.  Our zoo now only uses LED lights, but they do recycle lights strings.  If you have lights that don’t work, or tangled, or you just want new ones, take them to the zoo.  Don’t throw them away!

12DaysofXmas2013_Zoo05

 

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What are your Christmas Traditions?


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12 Days of Christmas Tradition ~ Day 11

One of the reasons I love the Christmas holiday is the traditions.

I love reviving old family traditions, and making new ones.  I love remembering fondly the things that I did as a child at Christmas time and the things I couldn’t wait to do again.

As an adult, I get to make sure our family participates in our traditions and make new ones.

Christmas Crafts!  Part Two

It is no secret I love hand and foot print art.  Last year we made these Mistletoes plates.  We gave them to some family as gifts.  I had thought we might make them again, but decided I wanted to do something different.

We made salt dough ornaments with the kids fingerprints to give to family.

12DaysofXmas2013_craft06

OK, admittedly, I am not as pleased with them as I was with the plates.  Mostly because you can’t tell the difference between Ian’s & Sid’s thumb prints.

They are really easy, and I could make  a lot of them all at once.  Ian is much more cooperative with these projects than Sid is.  So I needed something that I could quickly make a lot.

To make these Christmas Tree Fingerprint Ornaments you will need:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water (+/-)
  • rolling-pin
  • cookie sheet
  • paint (or food coloring)
  • ribbon
  • thumbs belonging to your favorite kids

Preheat oven to 250°.

Mix salt and flour together, add water a little at a time until a dough if formed.  If using food coloring to color ornaments add to water prior to mixing with four & salt.  Knead until dough becomes elastic, smooth and stickiness is gone, adding little bits of flour as needed.

Roll out dough to 1/4″ thick on a greased surface.  Use Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out ornaments, I was able to make about 15.  Poke a hole for the ribbon at the top of the tree.

12DaysofXmas2013_craft01

Have kids use finger/thumb prints to make ornaments on the cut out trees.

12DaysofXmas2013_craft03

This is a good assembly line project.  Ian just went through and put two prints on each one.  I did have to tell him not to put them on the edge.

12DaysofXmas2013_craft02

Little guys might need some help or persuading to get their thumbs on there.  Sid was not very enthusiastic about this.

12DaysofXmas2013_craft04

Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 2 hours.  Remove from oven and allow to completely cool before painting.  I used whatever craft paint I had on hand.  One was acrylic and one was enamel, both worked fine.

12DaysofXmas2013_craft05

Thread a length of ribbon through the hole and tie in order to hang up.

There is no ornament on a tree better than the ones your children make.  At least, according to me.

 

 

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What are your Christmas Traditions?